PRESPRESS

Dear friends in Christ,

Welcome to the season of endings and beginnings. It is hard to believe that the summer is so quickly coming to a close. It

seems like we have just started. And many of you have been enjoying some truly far-flung adventures. It has been fun to

hear about it, and I look forward to seeing you back soon.

I always look forward to school starting back up. I like having everyone in town and present. Carlette, on the other hand, has

a different perspective. For her, the break is coming to an end. This year she is helping to open a brand new school.

Everyone there is learning new customs and procedures, getting acquainted with new faculty and staff.

This is truly a season for the church of beginnings and endings. We have been piloting our “youth church” program, and this

Fall we will officially kick it off. We are talking about new mission opportunities which will be coming up. We are

contemplating new things in worship based on what we have learned from your hymn requests. All of these things are so

very exciting. —But they are scary as well, because they might just mean change.

I know that “change” is kind of a taboo word around most churches. George Carlin quipped, “Just when I discovered the

meaning of life, they changed it.” It can feel that way with the church as well. And yet, change is at the heart of being

Reformed Christians. We are at once to be reformed, and yet always reforming. This means that we take an honest look at

what we have done in the past, and what we are presently doing, and we hold these things up to the light of Scripture and

the life of Christ, and we ask God courageously if this is the best and most faithful we can do and be. This takes honesty and

willing hearts. It takes a willingness to be joyful and adventurous. And most importantly, it requires Christians who are

willing to do what may not be their first choice, if it is best for the body of Christ.

Would you join me in prayer for this amazing season God is bringing us to? Please pray for your pastor and session, as well

as others who are making plans as we speak!

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kevin Boyd

From The Pastor...

1215 Campbell Rd. · Houston, TX 77055

713-464-7659

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

August 2019

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The Mission Team wants you to know about some of the benevolences our church

supports! The “Mission of the Month” for August is Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM). MAM started in 1983 as a cooperative response to the severe economic downturn created

by the plunge in oil prices. Several area churches pooled their resources in order to aid an unprecedented number of requests. Spring Branch was one of the founding churches of MAM. Additionally, MAM is ranked #1 by Charity Navigator with a perfect overall rating for

the city of Houston!!

MAM provides a range of services to those in need, including:

Assistance for rent and utilities (serving 1858 families) Assistance in applying for government benefits Case Management (Individual counseling on becoming self-sufficient) Citizenship classes (63 people became citizens after attending classes) Employment services and a job network (581 people began a new job search, 402 found new or

better employment) English classes (823 adults advanced their English language skills) Financial education and coaching (297 people completed 602 classes and 206 coaching

sessions) Tax preparation GED classes I Can See (provides eye exams and glasses to students referred from schools in the MAM service

area (182 children received glasses and eye exams) Immunization for children (799 children immunized) Mental health counseling (347 people spent 1841 hours in counseling to cope with trauma,

anxiety and the effects of poverty)

Congregations account for 3.6% of the MAM’s support, and our church will donate $2,000

this year.

MAM School Supplies— During August, we will be collecting monetary donations for school supplies and uniforms as part of the Back to School Drive for MAM. Look for a table in the breezeway outside of the sanctuary to give your donation. MAM Volunteer Opportunities— MAM has a variety of volunteer opportunities that our SBPC members can take advantage of!! See some of the volunteer needs that MAM is looking for on the next page—>. (Please contact Miguel in the church office if you would like to learn more!!) SBPC Hot Meals on Weekends— The 4th Saturday of each month, individuals deliver meals to shut-ins. We have 2 routes with about 14 people on each, so we usually need a total of 4 volunteers each month. Please contact Lu Taylor if you are interested in helping to deliver meals!

August Mission Opportunities

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Back to School

Fashion Show

&

Pot Luck Dinner

When: Sunday August 18, 6 pm

Where: Fellowship Hall

What: Come dressed in your favorite outfit or maybe your school uniform! Anyone who wishes to may model their outfit on the runway after we all enjoy a Pot Luck Dinner! Be sure to bring a short description of your outfit – why you love it and where you would wear it (to be read by the commentator).

What to Bring: Families bring a main dish and side dish (such as vegetable or salad) or dessert. Singles bring one dish to share (main dish, salad, side or dessert).

Sponsored by the Fellowship Group

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This year —for the first

time ever— SBPC joined

The Villages Independence

Festival Parade! Candy was

tossed out, music was

sung, and a great time

was had by all! Good job

to everyone who worked

on the SBPC float!!

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Evenings Out for Food and Fellowship

Join old friends and perhaps meet new ones at these upcoming dinners...

Sun., Aug 18 — Back to School Fashion Show Potluck @ 6:00 pm

Wed., Sep 4 — Wednesday Night Suppers will resume @ 6:00 pm

What’s Going On at SBPC...

You’re Invited to PW Unwind on Monday, August 5th at 6:00

We are headed to Seasons 52, located at 842 W. Sam Houston Parkway in CityCentre, for our August meal together. The restaurant is participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks benefitting the Houston Food Bank. You may order from the Restaurant Weeks’ menu (https://www.houstonrestaurantweeks.com/searchresults/#menu-seasons-52-citycentre) for a set price, with part of the proceeds going back to the Food Bank; or from their regular menu (https://www.seasons52.com/menu-listing/dinner). Bring yourself. Invite a friend.

Please let Denise Wilborn know you are coming via email: dwilborn55@gmail.com or text: 713-725-2816.

Preview of Possible Book Selections on

Sunday, August 11th

Come by the Parlor before worship

(from 10:30 to 10:50 am) on Sunday,

August 11, to take a look at possible

book study selections for this Fall...

Come indicate your interest and

suggest books! Sponsored by

your Faith Development Team

For more information or to make

book suggestions, email Denise

Wilborn: dwilborn55@gmail.com

Many thanks to those who participated in and/or helped coordinate the Blood Drive this past Sunday held at Sprint Branch Presbyterian. We greatly appreciate your time and donation. Although not always remembered, each and every contribution helps save lives.

We had 13 eligible donors for a total of 18 units! Please mark your calendars for our next drive scheduled on Sunday, November 17th.

BE PART OF A BOOK DISCUSSION THIS FALL!

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The PW 2019 Welcoming Picnic is here!

Picnic Gathering

Benefit Drawing Tickets will be sold for $1 each and will benefit the:

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Aug 11, 2019

3pm to 5pm

Fellowship Hall

...at a Glance

***Summer : There are no Board Meetings, Bible Study, or Zip Trips until Sep!

PW Unwind dinner is 8/5 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Seasons 52 in City Centre

PW WELCOMING PICNIC will be 8/11 from 3-5 pm in the Gathering Place

HAPPY HANDS meets on 8/28 at 9:30 a.m. in the Conference Room

PW DIRECTORIES are always available in the Church Office.

SBPC Women this Month:

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The Gathering Place An English Tea Party…

The Gathering Place (TGP) celebrated an English Tea with beautiful teapot centerpieces filled with flowers courtesy of the Miller/Mitchell family in July! Tracey Pace entertained with songs and jokes from England, and we planted mint in tea cups to take home... The morning was complete with English tea finger foods and a wild Mad Hatter game incorporating teapots, large colorful top hats, and giant tea bags! It was one of our most fun days ever.

The Gathering Place is an ecumenical partnership with CarePartners® which provides memory care activities, lunch, and a respite for caregivers of people with dementia. For more information, please snag a brochure from the pews in the Sanctuary or the main Church Office.

Next month on August 19th, is our Beach Party! Wear your Hawaiian shirts and flip flops and join us for the fun!

More volunteers are always needed. If you can spare one Monday of the month (third Monday) from 10 AM to 1 PM, we would love for you to join us. It is a fun and rewarding experience!

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Happy Anniversary!

August Birthday Celebration!

Plan to stay after worship on Sunday, August 11th

for our monthly church-wide birthday celebration.

Take time to deepen relationships as you visit

with friends, enjoy light snacks, and celebrate

together those born in August...

Christina Holland 8/3

Lee Dillard 8/4

Rocco Sabala 8/6

Cameron Blome 8/9

Lu Taylor 8/9

James Humphrey 8/10

Kim Tangey 8/12

Brenda Lanan 8/13

Alexandria "Ali" Nix 8/15

Betty Harris 8/15

Lee Dudinsky 8/19

Lane Rouse 8/20

Dr. Rebecca Turney 8/20

Jennifer Chehade 8/23

Jim Kunkel 8/23

Margaret Ford 8/24

Dorothy Savage 8/25

Jennifer Fuller 8/27

Austin Indy Lanan 8/27

Ron Tremble 8/28

Stephen Lezon 8/29

Thomas Wayne Premer 8/30

Steve Nanney 8/31

Jennifer & Todd Miller 8/3

James M. & Doris Wright 8/5

Kathryn "Kate" & Jeremy Cross 8/14

Dr. Matthew & Sarah Dikeman 8/17

Glenn & Barbara Lanan 8/17

Mark & Rebecca Turney 8/21

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Help Wanted!

Fellowship ministry has sponsored our monthly birthday celebrations for a year now. Many of you have thanked us each month for the fellowship and hospitality opportunities, as we celebrate together our members’ birthday months. If you would like to help with a month, you are invited and encouraged to do so by providing the light snacks, helping with set up, or helping with clean up. Let Denise Wilborn know what month you would like to help and how

you would like to do so by email: dwilborn55@gmail.com.

SBPC Hot Meals on Weekends – The 4th Saturday of each month we look for

individuals to deliver meals to shut-ins. We have 2 routes with about 14 people on

each route, so we usually need a total of 4 volunteers each month. Please contact Lu

Taylor if you are interested in volunteering to deliver meals one month!

Donate Fabric & Yarn to Happy Hands

If you are spring cleaning and sorting through drawers and closets, look for extra fabric and yarn to donate to our Happy Hands group! We make heart

shaped pillows, lap blankets, baby caps, and scarves to give to hospital patients, and can use any washable fabric or yarn. This past year our group

made 859 items that were given away to 859 people! Next one is 8/28 @ 9:30am! To make a donation: Contact Doris Wright at doriswright66@gmail.com

Upcoming Opportunities...

Pastor Kevin has invited anyone wishing to attend “Church Under the Bridge”

this summer to let him know! Also called 1000 Hills, the Church Under the

Bridge service teams show Christ's love with people who are homeless, hungry,

and needing loving interactions they don't otherwise receive in the streets.

Volunteers from The Story will lead worship, share a message, and provide food

to over 100 individuals. Families with children 5 years of age or older are welcome to participate!

Register to join the service team — https://thestory.church/event/church-

under-the-bridge/ 2800 St. Charles

Third Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 pm Next Opportunity: August 21

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IMPORTANT PRESPRESS & BULLETIN REMINDER:

Remember to email all announcements to secretary@springbranchpres.org as soon as you have them!

Info received after the 20th of the month may be too late for the PresPress!

[BULLETIN information is needed no later than the Wednesday before a service. ] This will allow us to get the whole PRESPRESS done & distributed in time!

If you are cleaning out closets and come across gently used toys, such as puzzles,

blocks, large Legos or other stacking blocks, toys, cars, trucks, animals too large to

be swallowed, or other manipulative play toys, please donate them in the box at the

Church office for use in either the Prayground or Free Play Zone (for suppers in the

Fellowship Hall)! Thank You!!

PARLOR DESIGN

The Property Group is looking for a dynamic group of people who are willing and able to help give the parlor a face lift! If you are interested and it is right

up your alley, please contact Lisa Merritt at fake_momm@yahoo.com or 713-775-0033.

Helpers are needed for compiling the lovely Sunday

morning PowerPoint presentations we use in worship!

Plenty of spots are available, training is provided, and it

can be done from home, as it is not an overly difficult

process. Please contact Patty Blome if you have any

questions or are willing to help out!

Behind the Scenes...

Would you like to receive our weekly announcements via email every Friday? Sign-up by visiting our Church

website: www.springbranchpres.org — CLICK on “sign up for our Mailing List”

FRIDAY EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Church’s Prayer Chain List? A Prayer Chain Email is sent to our “prayer warriors” when we receive

word about someone in need. Contact the Church Office or Sarah Dikeman if you’d like to be added.

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Sponsored By:

Spring Branch Presbyterian Church 1215 Campbell Road Houston, Texas 77055 (713) 464-7659 www.springbranchpres.org

GOD ONE ANOTHER WORLD

PW Welcoming Picnic Sunday, August 11, 3 to 5pm

at The Gathering Place

All women are invited to hear The PW representative to the United Nations

Kristen Campbell

Also learn about 2019-2020 PW Activities & New Bible Study:

Love Carved in Stone … A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments

Plus, we will have lots of benefit drawings!

SAVE